Anyone tried the Bartisian Drink maker?

[lefty]

I just discovered this thing and it seems pretty cool. I am not one to go to bars, so I prefer making drinks at home. I am not interested in buying 100 ingredients to make speciality cocktails.

From reading the reviews, it seems like a great product. I like my drinks strong, so I would not want to buy that Keurig thing that has alcohol in the pods. This unit allows you to pick your own booze and to select the strength of the drink.
https://youtu.be/uXmnafDuVoo

Before I plop down $350, I would like to seek the wisdom of the BARF community.

Thanks.

 

[Map8]

Moved thread to the Sink.

 

[greenmonster]

I just watched the video, love the concept and the ability to adjust the strength of the drink. It’s pricey though so to get your money’s worth you’d have be using it pretty often. With the SIP in place that isn’t a problem.
The other question is about reliability but I think it’s pretty ingenious overall.

 

[lefty]

Map8-

Thank you. I thought i was posting in the Sink.

Greenmonster- I agree. It seems really perfect for our times.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Seems like a gimmick. Mixing drinks by hand is fun and you can measure it as closely as you prefer or freepour. I'd rather spend $350 on quality booze.

 

[greenmonster]

It’s a lot like a Keurig machine I think. Keurig coffee is not as good as fresh brewed but they are super convenient and easy to use. Maybe the same is true with the Bartisian where a freshly made drink will always be superior to a packaged one. If that’s ok with you and convenience is what you’re after then go for it and let us know the outcome.

 

[greenmonster]

Now that I watched the Bartesian YouTube video and my curiosity is peaked I just watched a QVC demo video where the presenter made the point that many drink recipes call for special ingredients like bitters, pineapple juice, cranberry juice,etc that are only needed in small amounts but have to be purchased in quantity, then left to sit.

The Bartesian pods have everything included so a wider variety of fancier drinks can be enjoyed without having a fully stocked bar.
Probably for simple drinks like a rum and coke a Bartesian wouldn’t be worth it but for a Long Island ice tea or a cosmopolitan it would be.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Can it make a vodka tonic?

 

[greenmonster]

Can it make a vodka tonic?

That’s the one problem I see- it can’t make a carbonated drink.

 

[asdfghwy]

Like a keurig, you probably trade off quality for convenience at a high level. Simple drinks (liquor/rock) are my thing, but I enjoy making drinks for others also so I'm not necessarily interested in this

 

[Abacinator]

Drink beer instead

 

[nbean16]

You can likely buy every ingredient needed for 100s of cocktails for $350

 

[CABilly]

I love a fancy cocktail but I don’t have the patience to make them at home so I stick to neat whiskey.

Without looking up this juicero sounding contraption all I can think of is this:

 

[Pushrod]

Well. . . what I see is a solution in search of a problem.

 

[R3DS!X]

Don't do it. It's really dumb.

 

[DucatiHoney]

If I entertained a lot (not happening now obviously) and wanted a fun toy for the rumpus room and had some money to burn, I guess I'd get one. It reminds me of when Hammacher Schlemmer used to come out with their Christmas catalog and you could buy a kajillion dollar tent, complete with polar bear and snow machine type of thing.

 

[Bay Arean]

Yeah, I wouldn't spend money on a thing like that. I mix a fair amount of cocktails and the things it does best doesn't cover the trouble of sourcing ingredients, preparing fruits, messing with eggs, etc etc.

The greatest mystery of cocktail making, to me, is shakin' out bitters and figuring out WTF a dash really is. I think that would be one thing about a machine, that it would consistently deliver on that.

 

[lefty]

Ok. Thanks everyone for the feedback. I guess I will save my $$ to buy more Rolling Rock beer!!!!

 

[R3DS!X]

They have some canned cocktails that are decent. but you can make quite a few cocktails with some bitters, a small selection of spirits and a little simple syrup.